‘The Most Perturbing Aspect of the Current Slowdown Is That the Weakness Is So Widespread’

NOT for the first time, the recent behaviour of financial markets has been at odds with economic fundamentals. The living has been easy on American and European stock exchanges this summer, despite plenty of gloomy data. Investors may have been placing too much faith in the capacity of central banks to counteract economic weakness.

The global economy expanded by just 2.8% in the year to the second quarter, according to The Economist’s measure of world GDP (see chart). That is the slowest rate since the end of 2009, when recovery from savage recession in the wake of the financial crisis was getting under way. The most perturbing aspect of the current slowdown is that the weakness is so widespread, affecting emerging economies as well as rich countries.

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In contrast, rich-country stockmarkets have been buoyant over the summer. During the past month American equity prices rose by 4%; European stockmarkets were even more sunkissed, gaining an impressive 6%. The rallies are now petering out, perhaps because investors are becoming more realistic about what central banks can truly deliver.

I have a funny feeling there will be lots more of the latter in the weeks to come.

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